Last Friday I participated in one of the coolest blogging experiences I've had in Tampa! I was chosen to partake in a blogger caravan to commemorate Social Media Day. Together with some of the sweetest and most talented Tampa Bay bloggers, social media professionals, and influencers, I spent the afternoon driving all over South Tampa, snapping photos, learning about local businesses, and trying delicious goodies!
Let me backtrack. June 30 marked World Social Media Day, celebrated locally as Social Media Day Tampa. In its seventh year, #SMDAYTampa is a donation-based event, with proceeds going directly to a local charity. This year's chosen nonprofit was Gasparilla Music Fest, which I attended earlier this year and loved!
Keep scrolling for a recap of this fun-filled day and a list of South Tampa gems you must check out.
We started our adventure at Ferg's live in Channelside, where we got to mingle and check out our personalized Beetles sponsored by Reeves VW. Ferg's Live is a great spot for happy hour, game-watching, and hanging out on the weekend. It's got indoors and outdoors areas, live music, lawn games, all right across the street from Amalie Arena.
Viking Fitness
We headed out to our first mystery stop, an unconventional and unassuming building on Channelside Drive. It was a small and trendy gym, Viking Fitness. It seemed like a cool place to work out - its warehouse style made for a unique experience, and it housed the latest trends in gym equipment. I even attempted to do rope slams in a maxi dress. Yikes.
Hazel + Dot
Next we headed to Hazel + Dot, a Tampa based boutique full of unique accessories and home decor. When I'm looking for a special gift, stores like this are my favorite! There are so many one-of-a-kind products to choose from, and all of them are hand-selected by the owner. There were many Florida and Tampa themed books, home items, women's accessories, and even toys and other cute products for babies and toddlers.
Mini Doughnut Factory
Our pit stop at the Mini Doughnut Factory had all of us jumping for excitement! A mid-afternoon doughnut and ice coffee break on a hot Tampa day was exactly what we needed! And since they are, in fact, mini, you don't feel so heavy and sugared out when you're done. Unless you order copious amounts, plus a doughnut milkshake to boot. (Yes, they blend two donuts INTO a vanilla milkshake, topped with whipped cream and an additional mini donut to garnish.)
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| Pictured here are the Homer Simpson, Campfire, and Sweet Pig |
Our last stop of the day was such a fun surprise! Fancy gourmet popcorn is all the rage these days, and this was my first time trying it! An adorable shop on South Howard, Chef Inspired's popcorn is popped fresh daily; they cater to special events of all sizes, and customers can even create new flavors. I got to try many, and they were all delicious! My favorite was Birthday Cake, which was surprisingly accurate. Vegan cheddar. was also great!
We got back to Ferg's Live just in time for food, drinks, and photo booth fun at the VIP Hour. I had such a great time meeting and learning from inspiring social media professionals and enthusiasts, and I can't wait to participate again next year!
Which of those stops is your favorite?
